Gus Forslund
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Position | Right wing |
Shoots | Right |
Nickname(s) | Gus |
Height Weight |
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 150 lb (68 kg/10 st 10 lb) |
Pro clubs | Duluth Hornets Ottawa Senators Windsor Bulldogs Philadelpia Arrows New Haven Eagles |
Nationality | Sweden & Canada |
Born | April 25, 1906 , Umea, Sweden |
Died | August 4, 1962 (aged 56), Geraldton, Ontario |
Pro career | 1929 – 1936 |
Gustaf (Gus) Forslund (April 25, 1906 – August 4, 1962) was a professional ice hockey right wing player. In the 1932–33 season, he became the first Swedish-born player in the NHL.
Gustaf Forslund was born in Umeå, Sweden in 1906 to Lars Anton Forslund and his wife Ida Maria Fällman. He was only a few years old when the family moved to Fort William and later Port Arthur, Ontario.
[edit] Playing career
He started playing professional hockey for the Port Arthur Ports at age 20 and transferred to the Fort William Forts one year later. In 1929 he moved to Minnesota to play for the Duluth Hornets of the AHA.
By playing 48 games for the Ottawa Senators in 1932–33, Gus became the first Swede to play in the NHL. He scored a total of 13 points, 4 goals and 9 assists.
He went on to play for the Windsor Bulldogs of the IHL, the Philadelphia Arrows and New Haven Eagles in the Can-Am Hockey League and ended his career playing in the Thunder Bay Senior League until 1941. In 1939–40, Forslund led the Thunder Bay Senior League with 39 points in 24 games.
[edit] After hockey
After retiring, Forslund helped organise youth hockey. His wife died at the age of 39 and he was left to raise their two children alone. He died from a stroke in 1962. He was 56 years old.